Saturday, July 28, 2007

There are many components to a well-rounded genealogical study as mere dates and names alone do not tell much about the ancestors in a database. I have always been a student of history and always include historical research in my genealogical pursuits in order to tell the story of my ancestors. One component in my genealogical studies is the pursuit of old maps where my ancestors lived. Maps can tell volumes of information. They can show county boundaries for certain dates, can show towns, villages, post offices, rivers and streams. It is always a treat to pinpoint the location on a map where an ancestor lived.

The Itawamba Historical Society has two historic maps in its online archives. One is an 1891 Cram’s Mississippi Map and the other is an 1891 Indian Cession Map of Mississippi. An excellent site for contemporary Mississippi county maps, showing sections, townships and ranges is the Mississippi Department of Transportation. They have excellent detailed maps in PDF format for every county in Mississippi. An excellent site for historic Mississippi maps, is the University of Alabama’s Alabama Maps site. They have both historic and contemporary maps of not only Mississippi, but many states as well. Their historic Mississippi map collection is wonderful.

Another most excellent online collection of historic maps is the David Rumsey Historic Map Collection. The David Rumsey Collection was started nearly 20 years ago, and focuses primarily on cartography of the Americas from the 18th and 19th centuries, but also has maps of the World, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. The collection includes atlases, globes, school geographies, books, maritime charts, and a variety of separate maps, including pocket, wall, children's and manuscript.Their fascinating site has thousands of historic maps, including 83 historic Mississippi maps. Be sure to visit their online Mississippi Collection.

Remember to never forget map research in your genealogical studies. Such a study is an important component to a well-rounded genealogical study.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

There are many records available that give a good description of ItawambaCounty during the 19th Century. One such type of records are the Federal IRS records.

The Internal Revenue Act goes back to the Civil War when President Lincoln and Congress, during July of 1862, created the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and enacted an income tax to pay war expenses. The income tax was repealed 10 years later. The Act of 1862 established the office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The Commissioner was given the power to assess, levy, and collect taxes, and the right to enforce the tax laws through seizure of property and income and through prosecution.

In 1862, in order to support the Civil War effort, Congress enacted the nation's first income tax law. It was a forerunner of our modern income tax. During the Civil War, a person earning from $600 to $10,000 per year paid tax at the rate of 3%. Those with incomes of more than $10,000 paid taxes at a higher rate. Additional sales and excise taxes were added, as well as an “inheritance” tax. In 1866, internal revenue collections reached their highest point in the nation's 90-year history—more than $310 million, an amount not reached again until 1911. The Act placed excise taxes on just about everything, including sin and luxury items like liquor, tobacco, playing cards, carriages, yachts, billiard tables, and jewelry. It taxed patent medicines and newspaper advertisements. It imposed license taxes on practically every profession or service except the clergy.

According to the 1866 Federal tax returns of ItawambaCounty, there were eleven towns in ItawambaCounty. It is interesting to note that the two towns with the most businesses were located on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in territory that later became LeeCounty during 1867. Those towns were Verona and Saltillo. Fulton, the county seat had the third largest number of businesses. Other towns in old Itawamba on the railroad were Shannon, Baldwyn and Tupelo. It is also interesting to note that the old river port town of Van Buren only had one business listed. Of the eleven towns, only two were in what is ItawambaCounty today.

Below is a list of businesses in ItawambaCounty for the year ending May 1866 abstracted from the business portion of the 1866 tax returns (listed in order of town size):

Friday, July 20, 2007

The Itawamba Historical Society has added the book, Itawamba County Chancery Court Records Index: 1836-1900 to the society’s special publications section online. This excellent 103-page resource in PDF format, edited by Terry Thornton of Fulton is a valuable resource for ItawambaCounty research. For years, the only listing of the probate packets found in the Itawamba Chancery Court Clerk’s office was a copy of pages from early issues of Itawamba Settlers quarterly, where, over a period of several issues, the probate packets were listed. However this early list was not in alphabetical order. Now surnames can be researched quite easily. This is the second book by Terry Thornton the society has published online. The society would like to thank him for the hard work and generosity of supplying this much needed resource to the research community.

Monday, July 16, 2007

ItawambaCounty is a diverse area. From the rugged hills of eastern Itawamba to the rolling fertile fields west of the TombigbeeRiver, ItawambaCounty’s ancestral heritage reflects that diversity. And throughout the county, old family cemeteries are scattered throughout the hills and valleys, serving as the final resting place for many of Itawamba’s early settlers. These old burial grounds contain many unique and interesting monuments to those settlers. One such interesting burial ground is that of Hampton. Hampton was an early voting precinct of ItawambaCounty south of present-day Tremont. The old HopewellMethodistCemetery is located at the old Hampton crossroads. However, nearby in a remote area east of the old HopewellCemetery is yet another old burial ground known as Hampton Graveyard. This old cemetery is in a remote area in a valley far from the nearest road.

Many of the monuments in this old cemetery are hand carved from stone found in the rugged hillsides of the area. Many of these handcrafted stones were carved with lettering showing who is memorialized (see photograph of the hand carved stone Terrell monument above). Several members of the Itawamba County Terrell family are buried in this old cemetery including Hannah Terrell.

Hannah Wiley Sealy was born November 22, 1798 in Chester District, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Samuel and Nancy Estes Sealy. On January 8, 1817 she married William A. Terrell. He was born August 16, 1790 in Chester District. William A. Terrell died on January 23, 1847 in South Carolina and by 1850 his widow Hannah and children John, James, Wade and Mary are living in the Hampton community in ItawambaCounty. Next door is Sam F. Hampton and wife Mary and Osburn Martin (a Methodist minister) and wife Mary. Hampton’s wife Martha is possibly the daughter of William A. and Hannah as her age in the 1850 census matches the age of their child Martha from earlier records. Also buried in the old cemetery is Wade Terrell. According to local legend he was shot and killed by the Yankees during the Civil War on April 16, 1862 near the old cemetery and was consequently buried there.

The story of the old Hampton graveyard, community and the Terrell family is one of many old ItawambaCounty families that make up the interesting tapestry of ItawambaCounty’s rich history and heritage.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

The society is offering a limited number of 1870 Itawamba County Federal Census books for sale. This 155-page book, edited by Gwen Platt during 1982 features a transcript of the entire 1870 Itawamba County Federal census and is fully indexed. The book features a forward containing ItawambaCounty historical information and detailed information relating to the 1870 Federal census. Also included is a list of abbreviations used in the census. This census book is 81/2 x 11 inches, softbound.

Earlier this year the estate of Gwen Platt in Florida donated 14 of these new census books to the society. The cost of the census book is $20 postpaid and may be ordered from the society at: PO Box 7, Mantachie, MS38855. Proceeds from the sale of this book will go towards the operation of the Gaither Spradling Library. Only 14 copies are available for sale. The society operates the Gaither Spradling Library solely from membership dues and donations and the facilities are open free of charge to the researching public.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

As part of an ongoing project of digitizing historic documents relating to ItawambaCounty, the society has digitized and published Digital Images of the 1898 Confederate Pension List to the society’s website. This old pension list was found folded in the back of an old Board of Supervisors minute book in the ItawambaCounty courthouse in Fulton. The society feels that providing digital images of source documents to the ItawambaCounty researchers, can enhance online genealogical studies relating to ItawambaCounty. To date, the society has digitized a complete issue of the Fulton Southern Herald newspaper from 1860, the first yearbook of ItawambaAgriculturalHigh School, an 1891 Cram’s Mississippi map, the Judson Baptist Association minutes from 1889, Marriage Book 6 index pages and an early Mississippi Indian Cession map from an 1891 edition of Goodspeeds. The society is also in the process of digitizing its photographic collection and so far, more than 80 archival photographs have been added to the online collection. To view the various digital collections, visit the society’s Special Publications section at the society’s website.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Long-time society member, Martha Bone, of Greenville, Mississippi will be the guest speaker at the Augustmembership meeting of the Itawamba Historical Society. The meeting will begin with refreshments at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, with the program following. She has just finished amonumental task – compiling a book including the Itawamba County World War I Draft Registrations with supplemental material. Who would think that a book most people consider just a list of names could provide such a wealth of information? This newly compiled book of ItawambaCountyWWI draft registrations consists of approximately 2,800 men who were born between 1873 and 1900. In addition to their names, addresses, dates of birth, and race, the cards also contain information on their occupations, places of birth, nearest relatives, employers, and even a physical description of each registrant. Plus manyof the cards reveal the birthplace of the father. Even if you had no relatives who registered for service in WWI, this book will still allow you to glean valuable information on early twentieth century Itawamba County . This compilation also includes selected information from censuses, cemetery records and the Social Security Death Index. This book is 8 ½ x 11 inches, and hardbound. She will be singing copies of the book after the program.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

During the turn of the century era in ItawambaCounty, the countryside was dotted with small post office communities. One such community was Otis. Otis was a community southeast of Fulton on the current Clay-Tilden Road just east of NitaLake. The community was made up mostly of the Lunsford and Bookout families. On April 5, 1899 Otis post office was created with James L. Bookout as the postmaster and the post office continued until November 30, 1903 when it was discontinued. The community consisted of a mill, the Lunsford Store and nearby Mt.PisgahChurch.

Egbert Lee Lunsford operated the E.L. Lunsford store at Otis. The store flyer shown above (click illustration for larger view) was printed around 1908. The Lunsford family (also spelled Lunceford) came to ItawambaCounty from Johnston County, North Carolina during the 1840’s. Egbert Lunsford’s parents were Robert David and Sarah Clifton (daughter of Henry Clifton) Lunsford.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Fulton is one of the older towns in northeast Mississippi. A deed recorded in Deed Book 1, Page 53, shows that a Chickasaw by the name of Dillahatubba sold Section 25, Township 9, Range 8 to Kenneth Clark, John Miller and Robert Miller, a group of Chickasaw Cession land speculators. They, in turn, gave fifty acres of this land in 1837 to the Itawamba County Board of Police for use as the site of county government. By 1838 this land was mapped and divided into blocks and lots. There were twenty five square blocks laid out in the new village on a bluff overlooking the rich bottomlands of the TombigbeeRiver. Below is an abstract of some of the first lot buyers in the new town. The deed book and page reference, date, and present-day location is given with each detail.

Edward MooreJune 6, 1838, Book 1, Page 252Lots in Block 14South part of Trustmark Bank and east yard of Hayes home

William PeacockJune 12, 1838, Book 1 Box 262Lots in Block 14North part of Trustmark Bank facing Main Street

Lemuel BeeneJune 4, 1839, Book 2, Page 178Lots in Block 9 and Block 2East half of the front office ofthe Itawamba County Times and United Steelworkers Union Hall. Also the east half of the old A.T. Cleveland home place (currently a beauty shop) on Beene Street

Wiley GaitherAugust 5, 1839, Book 2, Page 240Lots in Block 2The west half of the A.T. Cleveland home place (current a beauty shop) facing Gaither Street

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Growing up in rural ItawambaCounty, one annual event looked forward to by citizens, youngand old alike, was the countyfair. The Itawamba County Fair was held at the county fairgrounds along the old concrete Bankhead Highway under the hill west of the Fulton business district.

The annual fair was truly an enchanting and exciting place. Amid the sounds of the screaming and laughing children bobbing up and down on the horses of the musical carousel and the barkers enticing leisurely strollers to pick up a duck, or pop a balloon, the smells of cotton candy and corn dogs permeated the air. It was a time when thousands of county folks congregated under the hill in Fulton.

Perhaps the most visited attraction at the county fair was the exhibit hall. The large old whitewashed wooden structure with its creaky plank floors housed the best of ItawambaCounty agricultural products and goods. The displays were created with care by the various Rural Community Development Councils, farmers and housewives. Beautiful perfect Itawamba grown vegetables, canned chow chow in vivid greens andyellows, jellies, jams, beautiful flower arrangements of bachelor buttons and zinnias, and big beautiful cakes and pies filled the massive exhibit hall. It was simply a sight to behold.

The Itawamba CountyFair as I remember it back from the early 1960s had been around quite a while - at least 40 years or so. It had humble beginnings back during 1925 when a group of Fulton citizens got together and organized the Itawamba County Fair. Below is a newspaper article from the October 1, 1925 edition of the Itawamba County News detailing the first ever Itawamba County Fair:

Many Exhibits and Much InterestItawambaCounty One Day Fair

People of the CountyShow Interest in Fair.BigCrowd Attended.Quality of ExhibitsEqual to that of any Fair

ItawambaCounty’s first county fair proved a much greater success than was expected by anyone. Hundreds of exhibits were placed on display and widespread interest was shown by everyone present. The people of this county are ready and willing to cooperate and work toward anything that would be expected to bring about better farming conditions.

The exhibit of dairy cattle had some of the most select animals that will be found any where. Something like thirty head of Jerseys were on exhibit.

The exhibit of poultry proved one of the most interesting exhibits of the day. Half dozen or more breeds of chickens were entered. From these exhibits it seems that Itawamba is well adapted to poultry raising and if we had some one to urge poultry raising our county would be a banner one.

The Home Economics department had numerous A-1 exhibits in canned goods, cookeries, needle-work, and other home products. Much comment was head aboutthese exhibits.

One individual exhibit that the people paid compliments to was the general exhibit of field crops by Mrs. Comer. This exhibit contained five kinds of hay, potatoes, peanuts, and many other field crops and home products. Other splendid individual exhibits was the exhibit of vegetables by B.A. Brumley, the exhibit of farm products by Bud Burchand the exhibit of the I.A.H.S. which was housed in a hut built from corn stalks.

The judges of the exhibits were specialists, Mr. S.B. Durham of Tupelo, and Miss Massey of A and M College. Mr. R.S. Wilson head of extension work in Mississippi was speaker of the day. He was very much surprised and entheusied over our county fair and especially urged our need of a leader and worker for the farming interests of our county.

Monday, July 2, 2007

A party consisting of 26 persons from our little city, boarded a wagon decorated with American flags and slowly winded their way to a quaint old mill about two miles distant, and spent a pleasant day Thursday. The wagon was drawn by three yoke of oxen driven by Sidney Harden, one of our stalwart industrious young men. The personnel of the party was one of interest. Rev. A.I. Mathison, our genial friend and spiritual adviser assisted by such good women as Mesdames Copeland, Mathison, Holley and McRea, kept us quiet and peaceful.

No more picturesque place could have been selected to spend a day. The scenery was grand, dense shades, a beautiful pond of water and an old fashioned mill were the most attractive. The youngsters spent the day doing many things. Some fished, others practiced shooting at the target and boat riding. Beneath the shade of a large beech tree one of the most sumptuous and delicious dinners was spread.

There was no timidity or reserve practiced by any in feasting upon the many good things to eat, but all felt as if the setting was a matter of common interest. Among the party was a number of young lovers, and no doubt as rare gems of love and flirtation as Longfellow pictured concerning Miles Standish and Pricilla eminated from J. S. McNealy, Claud Smith, Charley Shaw and Walter Edwards, while listening to the music furnished by the Quartette of beautiful belles – Misses Dewdrop McFadden, Lester Nabers, Myrtle Copeland and Pearl Bonds.

Many pleasant incidents were experienced. When the party arrived at the mill, the thirsty oxen plunged headlong in to the pond before the passengers could get out, and an exciting yell arose as frightening youngsters sprang from the wagon. An old but strong canoe was constantly floated back and forth filled with youngsters upon the beautiful pond above the mill. A little maid among the number discovered a snake at short range and her desire to leave the scene became so sudden that she left both her shoes instantly and was fast fleeing when she was reminded that the snake was not pursuing her.

The incident was very amusing as well as laughable. Late in the afternoon all gathered together and started homeward aboard the slow moving train. The total weight of the party was 3,242 pounds.

Welcome to the Itawamba Historical Society

Itawamba History Review is edited by Bob Franks, publications editor of the Itawamba Historical Society. All photographs and editorial content by Bob Franks unless otherwise noted. The Itawamba Historical Society is a Mississippi non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Itawamba County, Mississippi's history and heritage. Be sure to visit the Itawamba Historical Society Online where you can discover your Itawamba County, Mississippi roots!